Plug connector having a secondary locking system that engages during plug insertion

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a plug connector, particularly for airbag activation systems, comprising locking tongues ( 2 ), which are oriented in the direction of plugging-in and provided for locking the plug connector ( 1 ) inside a mating connector ( 3 ), and comprising a secondary locking system ( 4 ). This secondary locking system ( 4 ) has secondary locking tongues ( 4   a   , 4   b ) that are joined to the plug connector ( 1 ) in a fixed manner. When locking tongues ( 2 ) engage inside the mating connector ( 3 ), said secondary locking tongues elastically spring into the space ( 5 ) between locking tongues ( 2 ) and the plug connector body ( 6 ) while engaging therewith.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a plug connector according to thepreamble of patent claim 1. Such plug connectors principally findapplication in airbag triggering systems.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The highest requirements are placed on the reliability of such plugconnectors and the plug connections produced with them. On the one hand,these requirements involve their reliability over a long period of timeand, on the other hand, undefined stress states on the trigger must beavoided in producing the plug connector. For example, it must be assuredthat, it is abundantly clear to the operator that the plug connector iscorrectly seated in its final position in the counter-plug, which isconventionally assured by a lock or a catch, and, on the other hand, itmust be assured that this final position is not abandonedunintentionally when the vehicle is operated and in particular, duringrepair operations on the motor vehicle. This is achieved by a secondarylock, i.e., the locking of catch arms in their locked position, so thatthe plug connection can no longer by disengaged unintentionally.

Known plug connectors for airbag triggering systems, as are known, forexample, from DE 125,295 A1 of the patent applicant, use secondary lockswhich can only be activated if the plug connector is already pluggedinto the corresponding counter-plug. That is, in the mounted position,the secondary lock is found locked in an intermediate position, fromwhich it is brought into its final position after producing the plugconnection with the counter-plug. The plug connector is thus deliveredwith a secondary lock in an intermediate position, whereby it may happenduring delivery or in the handling of the plug connector that thesecondary lock is found unintentionally already in its final position,as if the plug connection has been produced, but in this case,connection is prevented. The secondary lock can be disengaged again, butadditional time is required and an optional automatically producedinstallation is made impossible. In addition, after the plug connectionhas been produced, one may forget to also lock the secondary lock, sothat it cannot be excluded with certainty that the plug connection canbe disengaged again.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to extensively improve a plug connectorof the given type, so that a secondary locking need no longer be madeseparately after the connection with a counter-plug has been made, butcan be made simultaneously when the plug connector and counter-plug areconnected.

This object is solved according to the claim.

Preferred configurations of the plug connector according to theinvention are characterized in the subclaims. The principle of thepresent invention consists of the fact that the radial tilting movementof a locking tab by catching under the corresponding shoulder in thecounter-plug is used for controlling the movement of secondary lockingtabs, which are prestressed during the process of plugging in, so thatwhen the locking tabs are locked in, the path is made free for thesecondary locking tabs to move by their free ends behind the lockingtabs in order to make impossible a disengagement of the locking tabs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be explained in more detail in the following based onthe description of embodiment examples with reference to the drawing, inwhich the following are shown:

FIG. 1: an embodiment of the plug connector according to the inventionin lateral view;

FIG. 2: an exploded representation of the essential components of theplug connector according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3: the clamping piece 9 with secondary locking tabs formed thereon;

FIGS. 4 a, 4 b: the plugging-in process of the plug connector accordingto FIG. 1 into a counter-plug, partially cut away;

FIG. 5: the plug connector body with locking tabs;

FIG. 6: the plug connector according to FIG. 1 in the state locked inthe counter-plug;

FIG. 7: the disengagement of clamping piece 9 from the plug connector;and

FIG. 8: the disengagement of plug connector 1 from the counter-plug 3after disengaging the clamping piece 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows the plug connector 1 according to the invention with ahousing, which essentially comprises the plug connector body 6, thecover 8, and the clamping piece 9. The plug part extends at a rightangle from the flatly constructed housing. The plug part has lockingtabs 2 for locking the plug connector 1 in a counter-plug 3. Fromclamping piece 9, which is fastened to the plug connector body 6 bylocking or catching, secondary locking tabs 4 a, 4 b project in theplugging-in direction on both sides of locking tabs 2.

FIG. 2 shows the essential components of the plug connector according tothe invention in an exploded representation. From bottom to top, theplug connector comprises the plug connector body 6, on the plug part ofwhich are formed the locking tabs 2. The cables 11, which are guidedthrough a ferrite core 10 and crimped with plug connector sleeves 12,are inserted into plug body 6. The plug connector is closed off by acover 8, onto which is plugged the clamping piece 9 above the plug part.The fastening of all housing parts with one another is made each time bya locking or catching.

FIG. 3 shows the clamping piece 9 in perspective view. In addition tothe locking tabs, which are not shown in more detail here, for lockingor catching the clamping piece to the plug connector body 6, onerecognizes 2 pairs of secondary locking tabs 4 a, 4 b, on whose sidesturned away from one another are formed wedge-shaped projections 4 e, 4f. It is further recognized that the profile of the secondary lockingtabs 4 a, 4 b taper into free ends 4 c, 4 d.

FIGS. 4 a and 4 b show the plugging-in process of plug connector 1 intoa counter-plug 3. Only one inlet is shown of counter-plug 3, which iscut open in the region of the locking tabs 2, in order to show the plugpart of the plug connector 1. FIG. 4 a shows the plug connector 1, whichis plugged into counter-plug 3 far enough that the wedge-shapedprojections 4 e, 4 f are applied onto the upper edge of a guide slot 7in the counter-plug 3. In this position, a catch piece 2 c at the sametime strikes against a catching shoulder (which is not shown in thisillustration) on counter-plug 3, so that when plug connector 1 ispressed further into counter-plug 3, as shown in FIG. 4 b, the lockingtabs 2 bend when they project over the shoulder in the direction of theplug-in axis.

This bending of locking tabs 2 leads to the circumstance that projection2 d (see FIG. 5) is moved in the direction of the plug-in axis and thusoffers the free ends 4 c, 4 d of the secondary locking tabs 4 a, 4 b abearing surface. When plug connector 1 is pushed in further, the centralregions of secondary locking tabs 4 a, 4 b bend due to the contact ofwedge-shaped projections 4 e, 4 f with the narrow sides of the guideslot 7 to such an extent that these central regions bend into a space 5between the locking tabs 2 and the plug connector body 6.

In the locked state, i.e., plug connector 1 is completely plugged intocounter-plug 3, the locking tabs 2 spring back again into their initialposition, after they have projected over the (not shown) catchingshoulder in counter-plug 3. Simultaneously, they again release the space5 in the region of the free ends 4 c, 4 d of the secondary locking tabs4 a, 4 b and thus a bearing surface is not longer offered, so that, dueto the elastic bending of the secondary locking tabs 4 a, 4 b theyspring behind the locking tabs 2 into space 5, as this is shown in FIG.4 b. The secondary locking is produced in this way, since the lockingtabs 2 can no longer move from their locked position in the direction ofthe plug-in axis.

FIG. 5 shows the plug connector body 6 alone, wherein one can clearlyrecognize space 5 between plug connector body 6 and locking tabs 2. Onecan further recognize the configuration of catch piece 2 c on lockingtabs 2 and the projection 2 d on the opposite-lying side, whose width d,which is also shown, corresponds to the amount by which the profile ofthe secondary locking tabs shown in FIG. 3 taper into their free ends 4c, 4 d in this region.

FIG. 6 shows once more a partially cut-open view of the plug connector 1after locking in the counter-plug 3. It can again be clearly recognizedthat the free ends 4 c, 4 d of the secondary locking tabs 4 block aswinging back of locking tabs 2 into the free space 5.

FIG. 7 shows 2 alternative possibilities of how one can disengageclamping piece 9 from plug connector 1. This is done either, as can beseen on the left, by grasping under the lateral edges of clamping piece9 with the fingernails or fingers or with the help of a tool, forexample, a flat screwdriver 13 or the like, which one inserts into adepression provided therefor, with which the tip of the screwdriver isguided under the cover of clamping piece 9. Then clamping piece 9 ispushed up, as is shown in FIG. 8, to such an extent that the secondarylocking tabs are raised up enough that they no longer block a tilting ofthe free ends 2 c of locking tabs 2 relative to the plug-in axis. Inthis position, as is shown in FIG. 8 on the right, the plug connector 1can be removed from the counter-plug 3.

The preceding description of an example of embodiment of the presentinvention is not to be understood as limiting, but serves only forillustration of the invention defined in the claims.

1. A plug connector, for an airbag triggering system, with primarylocking tabs arranged in a plugging-in direction, for locking orcatching of the plug connector in a counter-plug, and with a secondarylock comprising secondary locking tabs, wherein when the primary lockingtabs are locked in the counter-plug, these secondary locking tabsautomatically spring elastically into a space between the primarylocking tabs and a plug connector body of the plug connector and blockthe primary locking tabs from being moved back into the space.
 2. Theplug connector according to claim 1, further characterized in that thesecondary locking tabs run parallel to both sides of the primary lockingtabs, and free ends of the secondary locking tabs press elastically attheir side edges against the primary locking tabs as long as the primarylocking tabs are bent toward the plug-in axis during a locking processof insertion of the plug connector into the counter-plug, wherein thepressing pressure is produced by wedge-shaped projections which arearranged on outer sides of the secondary locking tabs and which aresupported on the counter-plug, and which, as soon as the primary lockingtabs are locked in the counter-plug, spring by their free ends into thespace between the plug connector body and the primary locking tabs andlock the primary locking tabs in a locked position.
 3. The plugconnector according to claim 2, further characterized in that theprimary locking tabs have free ends with a catch piece for locking inthe counter-plug on a side lying radially outside of a plug-in axis anda projection on a side lying opposite, on which the free ends of thesecondary locking tabs press during the locking process.
 4. The plugconnector according to claim 3, further characterized in that when theplug connector is introduced into the counter-plug, the wedge-shapedprojections are supported on narrow sides of introduction slots for theprimary locking tabs and the secondary locking tabs, and thus thesecondary locking tabs in their central region are elastically bent intothe space between the primary locking tabs and the plug connector bodyand the free ends of the secondary locking tabs press against theprojections.
 5. The plug connector according to claim 4, furthercharacterized in that the introduction slots are dimensioned such thatafter the primary locking tabs are locked in the counter-plug, the freeends of the secondary locking tabs are arrested by support ofwedge-shaped projections on the narrow sides of the introduction slotsin their locking position.
 6. The plug connector according to claim 1,further characterized in that the secondary locking tabs are tapered intheir radial width relative to free ends of the secondary locking tabsby a width of a projection at free ends of the primary locking tabs. 7.The plug connector according to claim 1, further characterized in thatthe secondary locking tabs are shaped on a clamping piece that can belocked in a detachable manner on a housing of the plug connector.
 8. Theplug connector according to one of claim 4, further characterized inthat the wedge-shaped projections come to be supported on the narrowsides of the introduction slots, if the catch piece of the primarylocking tabs is supported on a corresponding catching shoulder of thecounter-plug.
 9. An airbag electrical plug connector comprising:electrical contacts; and a housing with a plug connector body, whereinthe electrical contacts are at least partially located in the plugconnector body, wherein the housing comprises a first spring-locklocking tab arranged in a plug-in direction for connecting to acounter-plug, and wherein the housing further comprises a secondspring-lock locking tab, wherein, when the first locking tab is lockedinto the counter-plug, the second locking tab automatically springs intoa space between the first locking tab and the plug connector body toblock the first locking tab from being moved back into the space.
 10. Anairbag electrical plug connector as in claim 9 wherein the secondlocking tab comprises a projection, wherein when the airbag electricalplug connector is inserted into the counter-plug the projection contactsthe counter-plug to deflect the second locking tab towards a side of thefirst locking tab and causing the second locking tab to resilientlydeform between the counter-plug and the side of the first locking tab.11. An airbag electrical plug connector as in claim 10 wherein, when theairbag electrical plug connector is inserted into the counter-plug, thefirst locking tab is resiliently deflected into the space and the secondlocking tab is prevented from entering the space until the first lockingtab resiliently deflects out of the space at a final connected positionof the first locking tab with the counter-plug.
 12. An airbag electricalplug connector as in claim 9 wherein the housing comprises a clampingpiece movably mounted to the plug connector body between a lockedposition and an unlocked position, wherein the clamping piece comprisesthe second locking tab, wherein the plug connector body comprises thefirst locking tab, and wherein the locked position comprises the secondlocking tab being located in a down position relative to the plugconnector body.
 13. An airbag electrical plug connector as in claim 12wherein the airbag electrical plug connector comprises a pre-connectioncondition for insertion of the airbag electrical plug connector into thecounter-plug comprising the clamping piece being located at the lockedposition.
 14. An airbag electrical plug connector as in claim 9 whereinthe housing comprises two of the second spring-lock locking tabs locatedon opposite sides of the first locking tab.
 15. An airbag electricalplug connector comprising: electrical contacts; and a housing with aplug connector body, wherein the electrical contacts are at leastpartially located in the plug connector body, wherein the housingcomprises a first spring-lock locking tab arranged in a plug-indirection for connecting to a counter-plug, and wherein the housingfurther comprises a second spring-lock locking tab, wherein, when thefirst locking tab is inserted into the counter-plug, the first lockingtab is adapted to deflect into a space and the second locking tab isadapted to resiliently press against a side of the first locking plug bythe counter-plug, and when the first locking tab moves out of the spaceupon final connection of the airbag electrical plug connector to thecounter-plug, the second locking tab is adapted to move off of the firstlocking tab and spring into the space to block the first locking tabfrom being moved back into the space.